On the surface, psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis look very similar. But underneath, things are different. So here's a summary of the differences between the two.
Psoriasis (visibly) affects the skin resulting in red, raised, scaly patches.
It can occur anywhere on the body, but typically shows on the knees, elbows, scalp and lower back.
It can affect joints and ligaments and occur anywhere in the body. It can occur in the joints on the left or right side of your body, or both.
Up to two in five people who have psoriasis will get PsA. Unfortunately, there’s no way of knowing in advance. Doctors can’t predict whether someone with psoriasis will develop PsA.
More than 8 out 10 patients with PsA experience skin problems before joint symptoms. PsA commonly appears about ten years after the onset of psoriasis.
About two in five people with PsA have relatives with PsA or psoriasis.
Although PsA and psoriasis are two separate conditions, they're connected. If you have psoriasis and haven't been diagnosed with PsA, you may have been asked by your doctor to complete a short questionnaire about your joints in the past. PsA symptoms can show at any time, so if you've not completed one of these questionnaires recently, you may want to consider raising this with your doctor or nurse at your next appointment.